Scalp massaging device



my 1, 1941. M. E. HEMp-EL 2,247,440" y scALP MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3. 193s Patented July n1, 1594i UNlTED STATES PATENT @FFME SCALE MASSAGING DEVICE Martin Edward Hempel, Berwyn, Ill.`

Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,763

(Cl. 12S- 63) 6 Claims.

The invention relates to scalp massaging de.- vices.

In baldness it has been found that the scalp usually has a distinctive region of tenseness surrounded by a wreath of thin hair, and that this diminution in mobility produces bald areas. It has also been found that the growth of the skull produces the stretching of the bony skull cap which compresses the blood vessels supplying the scalp so that the entire cellular tissue supplying hair formation becomes injured and degenerates and the hair follicles suffer disturbance of nutrition, and baldness results. It has also been ascertained that a properly carried out relaxation of the scalp combats the` loss of hair and, in some cases, restores new hair to bald spots. Massage movements, for the purpose of stretching the scalp upwardly from the region where the hair-roots have not been completely destroyed, restores circulation and produces relaxation, and is effective in the treatment yof baldness.

The object of the invention is to provide a massaging apparatus which is particularly adapted to be manipulated so as to massage the scalp from the sides of the scalp in an upward direction to loosen and relax the scalp and force cir` culation from the tissue which is still active with circulation to the Vtenseportions of the scalp.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a massaging device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is ya longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is la section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of a pair of exible massaging bands. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modiiied form of massaging band.

The invention is exempliiied in la device which comprises a housing or frame, a series of endless flexible massaging bands or belts, and powerdriven gearing for driving the bands or elements. The housing is preferably integrally formed with sidewalls I0, inclined and curved end-walls Il, and an extension l2 of suitable contour to provide a handle whereby the device may be manipulated over the scalp. The endless bands extend around and between a drive-roll I4 and an idler-roll I3. Each of these rolls is formed with annular grooves l5 for the massaging bands respectively.

The massaging bands are made of rubber so they are fiexible to conform to the scalp and are -arranged in pairs I6, l1 which are provided with oppositely inclined ribs I8.

The Vopposite inclination of the ribs causes them to exert a lateral pressure or kneading effect on the portion of the scalp engaged thereby. The bands are spaced apart to allow the compressed portions of the scalp to pass between the bands and prevent the accumulation of the tissue in `front of the ribs. The lower portion of sides Il) of the frame are cut away Yto expose the lower rea-ches of the bands l5 and Il for engaging the scalp and being exed thereby. The lower reaches of the bands between rolls i3 and lll will be flexed by the scalp conformably to the contour of the scalp when the device is manipulated thereover.

Idler-roll I3 is mounted on a shaft i9 which is slidably mounted in slots 2li and held in tight-` eners 2l which are lprovided with screws and nuts 22 whereby the roll I3 may be adjusted to or from the drive-roll M to loosen or tighten the bands, so the lower reaches of the bands will be flexible in the desired degree for conformation to the scalp. v j

Gearing for driving roll lli to drive the bands i5, l1 is mounted in the housing and comprises a shaft 25 which is fixed to roll id and is journaled in sides lll of the housing; a sprocketwheel 2t whichis secured by a pin to shaft 25; a sprocketwheel 26 fixed to `ashaft 2l which is journaled in the sides lil ofthe casing; a sprock-` et-chain 29 between sprockets 2B and 2li; and a l gear 30 fixed to shaft 2l. Preferably an electric motor 32 `for driving this gearing has its casing mounted on one of the casing end-walls Il and drives `a worm 3i which engages gear 3D. Motor 32 is supplied with current by a conductorcor-d 33, one end of which is usually provided with a plug for connection to an electric socket. If desired, gear 30 may be driven from a stationary motor through aV fiexible shaft. The gearing is driven to operate the bands in the i direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the device, the operator grasps the handle l2 and bringsthe lower reaches of the endless belts i6 and I1 in contact with the sides or back Aof the scalp and moves the casing upwardly toward the top of the scalp with the roller ll in advance of the roller I3. The lower reaches of the belt will travel upwardly to 4produce a massaging effect from the sides and back of the head toward the top. The side l0 adjacent sprocket 24 is provided with an inward extension Il)EL (Fig. 5) to prevent hair from Ibeing caught'in the lower portion of said sprocket and the chain. The device is used mainly on thinly haired scalps or bald portions of scalps for the treatment of baldness. The massaging eiiect is desired mainly over the bald spots and the hair immediately surrounding them. In manipulating the device in the region of the hair, the portions of the bands adjacent the sprocket at the front .of the frame may be raised slightly away from the .scalp and the massaging produced by the middle and rear portions of the bands.

The lower reaches of the belt, being the oppositely inclined ribs I8 will engage the scalp and, through their massaging eiect and laterally defiecting action, induce mobi-l-ityin the tissue which is under tension and has become hard and thin. This massaging treatment re-` stores the circulation, has a tendency to reduce the adhesion 'between the aponeurosis and the hair-'bearing 'skin of the head. The relaxation produced, when carried on continously,` serves to prevent the tension which causes the skin to become hard and thin and to degenerate the blood vessels, the cellular tissue and the nutri` tion of the hair follicles and Wherever the hairroots have not -be'en completely destroyed, relaxeslthev tension and produces a new formation of hair.

The .front portion of 'the housing H is eX- tended around, and encloses, the front of roller I4 Y'andtll'e portions of 'the bands thereon to guidev or deflect the hair under the belts, as the housingis advanced over the scalp and the bands are driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. In these movements, the bands press the hair against the scalp and prevent it from being entangled in the mechanism of th. device. y Y

A modified form of lmassaging band comprising a flexible strip 35 and bristles 35 projecting therefrom, is shown in Fig. 7.

The invention exemplifies a massaging device comprising endless bands which are ilegible to conform to the scalp and mechanism for driving the bands, which can be manipulated from the sides of the scalp toward the top to stimulate circulation from the region of the wreath of hair usually remaining toward the `zone which has become rigid and tense. The invention also kexemplifies a device which may be used as a preventive of baldness and .to induce new formation of hair where the hair-roots have not been completely destroyed.

The invention is not be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and Scope of` the invention. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as Vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a scalp massaging device, the combination of a portable housing provided on the top thereof with a -grip whereby it may beI manually manipulated-over the scalp, a pair of rolls mounted in the husing, a, series oi relatively narrow transverselyY aligned endless bands of ,rubber provided with massaging elements on their' outer faces, having their lowerreaches free to flexV longitudinauy, cie'ritly 'eXib'le to permit saidreaches of the bands to. yield longitudinal-ly and independently exiblewill conform to the curvature of the scalp and the Vbands being ,sui-h1 yield longitudinally of one another so they will conform to the convexity of, as the device is moved over and pressed against, the scalp, and power-operated means carried by the housing for continuously driving one of the rolls in one direction.

2. In a scalp massaging device, the combination of a portable housing provided on the top it may be manually manipulated over the scalp, a pair of rolls mounted in the housingfaseries of relatively versely, and having their lower reaches free to flex longitudinally, the bands being suiiciently ilexible to permit said reaches of the bands to against, the scalp, and poWer-operated-means carried by the housing for continuously driving one ofthe rolls in one direction;

.Y 3. In-a scalp massagingadevice, thecombina- 4;. In a scalp massagingdevice, 'thecombinaf manipulated over the scalp, a pair of rolls" mounted in the housing-a series of f relatively narrow transversely aligned endlessformed `rif/rubber and:V extending-around sai-Cl rolls and provided with-massagingelements 'ontheir outeriaces,V avwheel on= the front rol-lian endlessdriving f. elementl enclosedV withinthe and power-operated means carried by the-lions:

ing forcontinuously' driving saidfelement in one direction'.

5. In` a-scalpmassagin tion of a. portable housing provided on the 'topi thereof with an integral grip-whereby it may bands of rubber Yext'enduig-aroundithe rolls and provided.' withlnrassaging elements onhtheir outer enclosed withinfthe housing. Y

6.I In a scalpy massaging "device,"

housing for continI bands g-A device. the- 4combinaV`V a series of relatively narrow transversely aligned 4end-lessv tion of a portable housing provided on the top thereof with an integral grip whereby it may be manually manipulated over the scalp, a pair of rol-ls journaled in the housing, a series of rela tively narrow transversely aligned endless bands of rubber extending varound the rolls and provided with massaging elements on their outer faces, a motor mounted on the outside of the housing under one end of the handle, gearing for driving the iront roll, comprising a Wheel driven by the motor, a wheel on the front roll,

and an endless element extending around said Wheel and roll, said wheels and element being enclosed Within the housing, the housing being extended substantially to the plane of the exposed reach of the bands and around the portion of the element passing around the wheel on the front roll for preventing hair from being carried around the iront roll and by said element.

MARTIN EDWARD HEMPEL. 

